FAQ

General

Yes, IVI has separate heated bed and carbon fiber bed. The carbon fiber bed is placed on top of the heated bed. Prints can be easily removed by pulling up the carbon fiber bed and gently bending it.

Yes, IVI has a cooling system. Inside IVI, there are two turbo fans with 7.7 CFM airflow for circulating heat inside the printer. When Joel Telling from 3D Printing Nerd was testing the prototype in January, the fan was a little far away from the print head and it didn’t directly blow towards the print model, which largely affects the heat dissipation effect. We have been working on solving this problem ever since and it has been solved now.

Currently, the cloud-based system and auto-slicing capability are still in development. Auto-slicing is part of the cloud-based system. We have verified the feasibility of auto-slicing and it can already automatically provide the best printing position by identifying model features. But it still requires a lot of perfecting before we can launch officially. By the time we release, you will no longer have to spend your time and effort configuring printing parameters.

The cloud platform has been used within the team for more than three months. Although the UI is not yet perfect, the basic functions have been implemented (which completely outperform other slicing software on the market). What’s more, it has functions that are not available through other slicing software, including file management, and automatically associating STL and printing parameters with Gcode. This means that you can quickly find any Gcode straight from the STL file, and get all the printing parameters through the Gcode. The remaining mission for the cloud-based system is to optimize the UI and improve performance. In about six months, which is also the time all the backers receive the printer, it will be ready for use.

No, IVI team has no connection whatsoever with Tiko. None of our team members are from Tiko and none of our software or hardware is from Tiko.

We have a different product design philosophy. Tiko sought to be a cheap and simplified 3D printer while our goal is to make IVI a high resolution and reliable desktop 3D Printer. We have not tried new ways to reduce the cost of key components, because this will increase the uncertainty of mass production. For the main frame of the printer, IVI has applied methods that are already verified in the industry to realize the design of key movements and transmission.

Unlike Tiko and many other Kickstarter 3D Printers, up to now this prototype printer has been tested for nearly 4,000 hours. We have uploaded nearly 700 hours of time-lapse printing videos on our social media accounts, including FDM printing, laser engraving, and CNC carving. The biggest difference between us and Tiko is that we have completed 80% of the machine before crowdfunding, and we are confident and more capable of delivering our product to our backers.

Like any other hardware product, IVI is at risk of encountering various difficulties, and we cannot guarantee 100% success right now. But here is what we CAN promise:

To make the most of every penny that backers give us, and record every transaction;

To be transparent, update project progress at least once a week, including R&D, testing, mass production, shipping, etc., and disclose all large spending;

To truthfully and promptly inform all backers if we encounter any major difficulty that will slow down the R&D, testing, mass production, or delivery schedule.

Enclosed delta printers tend to be similar in appearance and design. Tiko had a similar design and was a failed project but that doesn’t mean it is a failed design. We believe the design has huge advantages and IVI is in the process of proving that to be true.

We believe its industrial design makes IVI much more user-friendly. It is a more welcoming and accessible prospect for people without 3D printing experience.

Yes. We will provide technical support and after-sales service for printers purchased by supporters during crowdfunding. The warranty period for the main body and hardware is: 180 days from the date you receive the printer.

We will guarantee all modules and the major parts. We will verify and release the details of the warranty after we do thorough testing during pre-production.

For consumables like the nozzle and CNC bit, we will provide a free extra nozzle and bit as replacement parts.

Yes. You have to pay customs duties and taxes for this product. The rate differs according to the country.

For the closed-loop IVI 3D Printer and one FDM print head, the price is $799. For each add-on FDM print head of different diameters, laser module, and CNC module, it will be around $70 to $150. This price is subject to change after the funding period.

Yes. We will provide a Quick Start Guide and video tutorial for 3D printing, laser engraving, and CNC carving. This includes unboxing, assembly, use of software, use cases, etc.

IVI can connect with your PC or mobile devices through Internet or LAN. You can also use USB connection or SD cards.

IVI uses non-proprietary filament. It comes with a heated bed that enables you to print with 1.75mm PLA, ABS, HIPS, TPU, PVA, etc.

When there is no Internet connection, you can use a 3rd party slicer to slice the model and then connect with the printer via LAN or USB cable to print.

Sure! Select a reward tier, and then add additional rewards and shipping cost amounts to your pledge. We will send surveys to backers to confirm their reward items and pledge amount after the campaign ends.

For example, if you are in the U.S. (shipping cost is $39 for U.S.) and want to pledge for one $299 IVI 3D Printer and two $369 IVI 3D Printers with Laser Module, your pledge should be: 3 x $39 + $299 + 2 x $369 = $1154.

When we created IVI's modular print head design, we thought of adding these two features and giving the user two additional features without adding extra cost. 3D scanning can digitize an existing object and then print it out. SLA printing can be used to print out highly detailed models that FDM is not suited to. But considering that adding these two features will affect the progress of mass production and delivery of the printer, we decided to move them downwards in our priority list. We will perfect these two features after the crowdfunding and all of our backers will be able to purchase the accessories at a very low price.

Yes. We will ship from China to the EU. Shipping costs and tax need to be covered by the backer.

The provided power supply unit can run on 100-240V AC, and can be used universally throughout the world. It can accommodate different AC mains voltages with interchangeable connectors.

Yes. We will apply for FCC, CE, and RoHS certification to ship the printer to the US and the EU.

Yes. You can use other slicer software, including Cura, Simplify 3D and Slic3r. IVI has its own slicer software which is cloud-based. All you need to do is to upload the model and IVI’s slicer will provide auto-slicing for you.